US20050179338A1 - Electrostatic actuator - Google Patents

Electrostatic actuator Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050179338A1
US20050179338A1 US11/037,894 US3789405A US2005179338A1 US 20050179338 A1 US20050179338 A1 US 20050179338A1 US 3789405 A US3789405 A US 3789405A US 2005179338 A1 US2005179338 A1 US 2005179338A1
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Prior art keywords
axis direction
movable element
arm portions
substrate
connection portion
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Abandoned
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US11/037,894
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English (en)
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Masaya Tamura
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Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Assigned to MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. reassignment MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TAMURA, MASAYA
Assigned to MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. reassignment MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TAMURA, MASAYA
Publication of US20050179338A1 publication Critical patent/US20050179338A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02N—ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H02N1/00—Electrostatic generators or motors using a solid moving electrostatic charge carrier
    • H02N1/002—Electrostatic motors
    • H02N1/006—Electrostatic motors of the gap-closing type
    • H02N1/008—Laterally driven motors, e.g. of the comb-drive type
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
    • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
    • E02F3/96—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with arrangements for alternate or simultaneous use of different digging elements
    • E02F3/966—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with arrangements for alternate or simultaneous use of different digging elements of hammer-type tools
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B21/00—Common features of fluid actuator systems; Fluid-pressure actuator systems or details thereof, not covered by any other group of this subclass
    • F15B21/008—Reduction of noise or vibration

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrostatic actuator suitably used to drive a movable element disposed on a substrate by an electrostatic force between electrodes.
  • An electrostatic actuator is generally used in optical communication components, such as optical switches, optical shutters, optical attenuators, angular velocity sensors, resonators, and other suitable devices (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,640).
  • a conventional electrostatic actuator is formed by subjecting a low-resistance silicone to an etching process.
  • the electrostatic actuator includes a substrate, a bar-shaped movable element disposed on the substrate with a space therebetween, a plurality of support beams provided between the substrate and the movable element such that the support beams may be bent and deformed, and a drive portion for driving the movable element by an electrostatic force in the Y-axis direction.
  • the movable element is arranged to extend in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction.
  • the support beams are long and narrow bar-shaped elements having elasticity (spring action) and are disposed on both sides in the X-axis direction of the movable element.
  • One end of the support beams is connected to the substrate and the other end is connected to the movable element.
  • the movable element is supported by the support beams so as to be spaced from the substrate and movable in the Y-axis direction.
  • the drive portion includes a comb-shaped fixed electrode provided on the substrate, and a comb-shaped movable electrode meshed with the fixed electrode with a space therebetween in the X-axis direction, and the movable electrode is provided on the movable element.
  • the movable element When no voltage is applied between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, the movable element is maintained at an initial position by the support beams in a free state (not deformed state). Furthermore, when a voltage is applied between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, an electrostatic force is generated between these electrodes and the support beams are bent and deformed and, as a result, the movable element is displaced in the Y-axis direction and driven to a fixed switching position.
  • a mirror portion provided on the movable element is displaced between the initial position and the switching position and the optical paths are switched by moving the mirror portion into or out of the optical paths.
  • the fixed and movable electrodes are meshed with each other so as to have very small space therebetween.
  • the fixed electrode contacts the movable electrode and may be short-circuited.
  • the actuator may not operate properly.
  • preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an electrostatic actuator in which the movable element is largely and stably displaced, transverse locational deviations of the movable element are prevented, a sufficient amount of displacement of the movable element is obtained, and the reliability is greatly improved.
  • Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an electrostatic actuator including a substrate, a movable element disposed on the substrate and movable in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction, a plurality of support beams provided between the substrate and the movable element so as to be bent and deformed, the support beams being positioned on both sides in the X-axis direction of the movable element and supporting the movable element such that the movable element is able to be displaced in the Y-axis direction, and a driver for displacing the movable element from an initial position to a switching position by driving the movable element in the Y-axis direction by an electrostatic force.
  • Each of the support beams includes two arm portions arranged so as to extend in the X-axis direction and having a space therebetween in the Y-axis direction, and a connection portion for connecting the arm portions that is bent so as to be substantially U-shaped.
  • the arm portions of each support beam is configured such that, when the movable element is at the initial position, the arm portions are not parallel in the X-axis direction and, when the movable element is driven toward the switching position, the arm portions are extended so as to be substantially parallel.
  • each of the arm portions of the support beams includes a plurality of bar-shaped elements extending in the X-axis direction and having a space therebetween in the Y-axis direction.
  • the bar-shaped elements are connected to the connection portion at different locations in the Y-axis direction.
  • the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the connection portion is greater than the width dimension in the Y-axis direction of each of the arm portions.
  • the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the connection portion is greater than the width dimension in the Y-axis direction of each of the bar-shaped elements.
  • the arm portions of the support beam include a substrate-side arm portion having one end connected to the substrate and the other end connected to the connection portion, and a movable element-side arm portion having one end connected to the movable element and the other end connected to the connection portion at a location spaced away from the substrate-side arm portion in the Y-axis direction.
  • the driver includes a fixed electrode including a plurality of electrode plates extending in the Y-axis direction and having a space therebetween in the X-axis direction so as to be comb-shaped, the fixed electrode being provided on the substrate, and a movable electrode including a plurality of electrode plates provided on the movable element and meshed with the electrode plates of the fixed electrode, the electrode plates are spaced from one another so as to be comb-shaped and so as to generate an electrostatic force between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode.
  • the support beams are bent and deformed.
  • the electrostatic force in the transverse direction (X-axis direction) applied to the movable element is relatively small, even if the arm portions of the support beams are not parallel, the movable element can be stably driven in the Y-axis direction.
  • the arm portions of the support beams are extended so as to be substantially parallel along the X-axis direction perpendicular to the displacement direction of the movable element (Y-axis direction).
  • the spring constant in the X-axis direction of the support beams is increased as compared to the spring constant in the Y-axis direction.
  • the movable element when the movable element is displaced by a large amount, even if an asymmetrical electrostatic force is increased in the transverse direction (X-axis direction), the rigidity in the transverse direction of the support beams is increased, and thus, while the support beams are bent in the displacement direction of the movable element, locational deviations in the transverse direction of the movable element are minimized because of the high rigidity. Therefore, even if the amount of displacement of the moving element is set to be large, the movable element is stably and reliably displaced between the initial position and the switching position and, the amount of displacement of the movable element is sufficiently secured while the reliability of the actuator is greatly improved.
  • each of the arm portions of the support beam includes a plurality of bar-shaped elements and the bar-shaped elements are connected to the connection portion at different locations in the Y-axis direction.
  • the connection portion is connected to the arm portions at a plurality of locations and the rigidity at these connecting points is increased. Accordingly, when the support beams are bent and deformed, displacement such that the connection portion undulates in the X-axis direction at the end portion of the arm portions is minimized and the rigidity in the X-axis direction of the support beams as a whole is increased.
  • the width dimension of the connection portion is set to be greater than the width dimension of the arm portions, the rigidity of the connection portion is increased, and the elasticity (spring action) is minimized.
  • the bending and deformation in the X-axis direction of the connection portion is minimized, and, as a result, the spring constant in the X-axis direction of the support beams is increased.
  • connection portion is greater than the width dimension of each bar-shaped element of the arm portions, the bending and deformation in the X-axis direction of the connection portion is minimized by increasing the rigidity of the connection portion, and the spring constant in the X-axis direction of the support beams is increased.
  • the support beams include a substrate-side arm portion, a movable element-side arm portion, and a connection portion so as to be substantially U-shaped, and the support beams are connected between the substrate and the movable element.
  • each electrode while the size of each electrode is reduced by using comb-shaped fixed and movable electrodes, a sufficient opposing area is maintained between the electrodes, and the movable element is efficiently driven by a large electrostatic force. Since transverse locational deviations of the movable element are prevented, a short-circuit between the facing electrodes having a very small gap therebetween is prevented.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view showing an optical switching device of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line II-II of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a support beam, etc. in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a front view showing the state where the movable element and the mirror portion are driven from the initial position to the switching position;
  • FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4 showing the state where the support beams are bent and deformed by the displacement of the movable element to the switching position;
  • FIG. 6 shows characteristic lines showing the relationship between the amount of displacement of the movable element and the ratio of spring constants of the support beam
  • FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of an electrostatic actuator as a comparative example when seen from the same position as shown in FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of an optical switching device of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention when seen from the same position as shown in FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view showing the state where the support beam in FIG. 8 is bent and deformed
  • FIG. 10 is a front view showing an optical switching device of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a front view showing the state where the movable element and the mirror portion of the optical switching device of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention are driven from the initial position to the switching position;
  • FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of an optical switching device as a modified example of the present invention when seen from the same position as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • FIGS. 1 to 6 show an electrostatic actuator according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention and, in the present preferred embodiment, a case in which the electrostatic actuator is used in an optical switching device is described as an example.
  • reference numeral 1 represents an optical switching device and reference numeral 2 represents a substrate defining the base of the optical switching device 1 .
  • the substrate 2 is made of, for example, a glass plate having a size of a few mm square and horizontally extended along X and Y axes perpendicular to each other.
  • a movable element 3 On the top surface of the substrate 2 , a movable element 3 , a mirror portion 4 , support beam fixing portions 5 , support beams 6 , fixed electrodes 10 , movable electrodes 11 , and other elements to be described later are formed by subjecting a silicone material having low resistance to an etching process.
  • Reference numeral 3 represents a movable element provided on the substrate 2 , and, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the movable element 3 is defined by a long and narrow bar-shaped element and extended in the Y-axis direction. Furthermore, the movable element 3 is supported by the support beams 6 such that the movable element 3 may be disposed in the Y-axis direction and maintained at a position separated away from the substrate 2 together with the mirror portion 4 and the movable electrodes 11 .
  • Reference numeral 4 represents a mirror portion provided at an end of the movable element 3 and the mirror portion 4 is disposed so as to be able to move backward and forward across the light paths of an optical device 12 to be described later.
  • the light paths are changed such that the light emitted from light sources 12 A and 12 B is reflected or passes through.
  • the surface of the mirror portion 4 is mirror-finished such that a metal film is formed by plating, evaporation, sputtering, or other suitable method.
  • the movable element 3 When a voltage is applied between the fixed electrodes 10 and the movable electrodes 11 , as shown in FIG. 4 , the movable element 3 is driven in the Y-axis direction by the electrostatic force between the fixed and movable electrodes 10 and 11 and the support beams 6 are bent and deformed. Thus, the movable element 3 , the mirror portion 4 , and the movable electrodes 11 are displaced from the initial position to a switching position and the light paths of the optical device 12 are switched by the mirror portion 4 .
  • the maximum amount of displacement L is set to be about 60 ⁇ m, for example.
  • Reference numeral 5 represents four support beam fixing portions arranged so as to protrude from the substrate 2 .
  • Two support beam fixing portions 5 are disposed on each side in the X-axis direction of the movable-element 3 and are also separated from each other in the Y-axis direction.
  • the substrate-side arm portion 7 of a support beam 6 to be described later is connected to a support beam fixing portion 5 .
  • Reference numeral 6 represents four support beams that are configured such that the support beams may be bent and deformed between the substrate 2 and the movable element 3 .
  • Two support beams 6 are disposed on each side in the X-axis direction of the movable element 3 at locations that are symmetrical to each other.
  • the support beams are also disposed at two locations in the Y-axis direction that are separated from each other and support the movable element 3 at these locations, such that the movable element 3 can be displaced in the Y-axis direction.
  • each of the support beams 6 is a long narrow bar-shaped element which is bent so as to be substantially U-shaped (rectangular) and include a substrate-side arm portion 7 and a movable element-side arm portion 8 , both of which extend in the X-axis direction and are disposed so as to be separated from each other in the Y-axis direction, and a connection portion 9 connecting these arm portions 7 and 8 .
  • one end of the substrate-side arm portion 7 is connected to the substrate 2 through the support beam fixing portion 5 and the other end is connected to the connection portion 9 .
  • one end of the movable element-side arm portion 8 is connected to the movable element 3 and the other end is connected to the connection portion 9 at a location separated in the Y-axis direction from the substrate-side arm portion 7 .
  • the connection portion 9 is substantially rectangular, is disposed at the other ends of the arm portions 7 and 8 , and extends in the Y-axis direction.
  • the support beam 6 is maintained in a free state in which there is no bending deformation and, in such a free state, one end side of the arm portions 7 and 8 is closed and substantially U-shaped.
  • the arm portions 7 and 8 are extended in the X-axis direction and inclined in the Y-axis direction.
  • the arm portions 7 and 8 are closer to each other at one side in the X-axis direction (the side of the movable element 3 ) than at the other side (the side of the connection portion 9 ) and are not parallel to each other. That is, the distance d in the Y-axis direction between the arm portions 7 and 8 at the one side is shorter than the distance D at the other side (D>d).
  • the support beam 6 is bent and deformed in the Y-axis direction, and thus, the arm portions 7 and 8 are displaced so as to be open at the one side.
  • the arm portions 7 and 8 are extended such that the arm portions 7 and 8 are substantially parallel to each other in the transverse direction (X-axis direction) that is substantially perpendicular to the displacement direction (Y-axis direction) of the movable element 3 .
  • the ratio (kx/ky) of the spring constant kx in the X-axis direction to the spring constant ky in the Y-axis direction increases and the rigidity in the transverse direction (X-axis direction) of the support beam 6 increases.
  • the maximum amount of displacement L of the movable element 3 may be set at a sufficiently large value as will be described later.
  • Reference numeral 10 represents three fixed electrodes provided on the substrate 2 .
  • each fixed electrode 10 is defined by a comb-shaped electrode and the fixed electrodes 10 are disposed so as to sandwich the movable element 3 and are symmetrical on both sides in the X-axis direction.
  • the fixed electrodes 10 which are separated in the Y-axis direction are disposed at two locations.
  • Each fixed electrode 10 includes a plurality of electrode plates 10 A extending in the Y-axis direction and having a space therebetween in the X-axis direction.
  • Reference numeral 11 represents three movable electrodes provided at locations opposite to the fixed electrodes 10 on the movable element 3 .
  • Each movable electrode 11 defines a driver together with the fixed electrode 10 and includes a plurality of electrode plates 11 A which mesh with the electrode plates 10 A of the fixed electrode 10 .
  • Reference numeral 12 represents an optical device provided on the substrate 2 and the optical device 12 includes light sources 12 A and 12 B and light receiving portions 12 C and 12 D which are connected to optical fibers (not illustrated).
  • the optical paths are provided between the light source 12 A and the light receiving portion 12 C and between the light source 12 B and the light receiving portion 12 D through the mirror portion 4 , respectively.
  • the optical paths are provided between the light source 12 A and the light receiving portion 12 D and between the light source 12 B and the light receiving portion 12 C outside the mirror portion 4 , respectively, and thus, the light paths are switched.
  • the optical switching device 1 has the above-described structure (construction), and next its operation will be described.
  • the arm portions 7 and 8 of the support beams 6 are not parallel to each other, and the arm portions 7 and 8 are constructed so as to be substantially parallel to each other when the movable element 3 is displaced toward the switching position.
  • the ratio (kx/ky) of the spring constant kx in the X-axis direction of the support beams 6 to the spring constant ky in the Y-axis direction changes along the characteristic line 13 shown by a solid line in FIG. 6 in accordance with the amount of displacement y in the Y-axis direction of the movable element 3 .
  • the more the movable element 3 is displaced the more perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the movable element 3 the arm portions 7 and 8 become. Accordingly, when the movable element 3 is displaced over a large distance of 0 to about 60 ⁇ m, the ratio (kx/ky) of the spring constants of the support beams 6 is increased in accordance with the amount of displacement y.
  • an electrostatic actuator 100 is a comparative example to compare to the present preferred embodiment.
  • a support beam 102 supporting the movable element 101 is maintained so as to be substantially U-shaped where arm portions 103 and 104 are not deformed, and, when the movable element 101 is displaced, as shown by an imaginary line, the arm portions 103 and 104 are bent and deformed such that the arm portions 103 and 104 open.
  • the relationship between the amount of displacement of the movable element 101 and the ratio of the spring constants of the support beam 102 is shown as a characteristic line 14 of an imaginary line in FIG. 6 .
  • the ratio (kx/ky) of the spring constants of the support beams 6 are maintained so as to be sufficiently large and it has been confirmed that the movable element 3 is stably and reliably driven.
  • the arm portions 7 and 8 of the support beams 6 are maintained so as to be not parallel, and, when the movable element 3 is driven toward the switching position, the arm portions 7 and 8 are extended so to be substantially parallel to each other.
  • the movable element 3 when the movable element 3 is in the vicinity of the initial position, since the facing area of the electrode plates 10 A and 10 B of the electrodes 10 and 11 , and thus, the transverse electrostatic force applied to the movable element 3 , are relatively small, even if the arm portions 7 and 8 of the support beams 6 are not parallel, the movable element 3 can be stably driven in the Y-axis direction.
  • the arm portions 7 and 8 are extended so as to be substantially parallel to each other along the X-axis direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the movable element 3 , and the spring constant kx in the X-axis direction of the support beams 6 is increased as compared to the spring constant ky in the Y-axis direction.
  • the support beams 6 minimize transverse locational deviations of the movable element 3 because of the increased rigidity.
  • the movable element 3 is supported in a well-balanced manner by the four support beams 6 at locations in the Y-axis direction and on both sides of the X-axis direction, and the movable element 3 is linearly driven in a more stable and reliable manner.
  • the comb-shaped fixed electrodes 10 and movable electrodes 11 define a driver, the size of the electrodes 10 and 11 can be reduced while maintaining sufficient facing areas between the electrodes, and, as a result, the movable element 3 is efficiently driven by a large electrostatic force. In this case, since transverse locational deviations of the movable element 3 is prevented by the support beams 6 , a short circuit between the electrodes 10 and 11 facing each other with very small amount of gap is prevented.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present preferred embodiment includes arm portions of the support beam that are defined by a plurality of bar-shaped elements.
  • the same components as those in the first preferred embodiment are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
  • Reference numeral 21 represents an optical switching device.
  • the optical switching device 21 includes the substrate 2 , the movable element 3 , the support beam fixing portions 5 , the movable electrodes 11 , support beams 22 to be described later, the mirror portion, the fixed electrodes (not illustrated), and others.
  • Reference numeral 22 represents four support beams supporting the movable element 3 such that the movable element 3 may be displaced in the Y-axis direction, and, substantially in the same manner as in the first preferred embodiment, each of the support beams 22 includes an arm portion 23 including one end that is connected to the support beam fixing portion 5 , an arm portion 24 including one end that is connected to the movable element 3 , and a connection portion 25 which connects the two arm portions 23 and 24 .
  • the substrate-side arm portion 23 includes two bar-shaped elements 23 A.
  • the long and narrow bar-shaped elements 23 A extend in the X-axis direction and have a space therebetween in the Y-axis direction and a width W 1 in the Y-axis direction. Then, one end of the bar-shaped elements 23 A is connected at different locations in the Y-axis direction to the support beam fixing portion 5 and the other end is connected at different locations to the connection portion 25 , respectively.
  • the movable element-side arm portion 24 includes two bar-shaped elements 24 A having a width W 2 in the Y-axis direction.
  • connection portion 25 has a width dimension W 3 which greater than the width dimensions W 1 and W 2 of the bar-shaped elements (W 3 >W 1 , W 3 >W 2 ) so as to increase the rigidity in the X-axis direction of the support beam 22 .
  • the arm portion 23 of the support beam 22 includes a plurality of bar-shaped elements 23 A and the arm portion 24 includes a plurality of bar-shaped elements 24 A.
  • the rigidity at these connecting points is increased. Furthermore, since the connection portion 25 and the arm portion 24 are connected at plurality of locations corresponding to the bar-shaped elements 24 A, the rigidity at the connecting points is increased.
  • connection portion 25 is greater than the width dimensions W 1 and W 2 of the bar-shaped elements 23 A and 24 A of the arm portions 23 and 24 , the rigidity of the connection portion 25 is increased and its elasticity (spring effect) is minimized. In this manner, when the support beam 22 is bent and deformed, the bending and deformation in the X-axis direction of the connection portion 25 is minimized and the spring constant kx in the X-axis direction of the support beam 22 is increased. Accordingly, transverse locational deviations of the movable element 3 are securely and reliably prevented.
  • FIGS. 10 and 11 show a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • This preferred embodiment includes support beams which are configured so as to be substantially U-shaped and open when the movable element 3 is at the initial position.
  • the same components as those in the first preferred embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
  • Reference numeral 31 represents an optical switching device. Substantially in the same manner as the first preferred embodiment, the optical switching device 31 includes the substrate 2 , the movable element 3 , the mirror portion 4 , the support beam fixing portion 5 , fixed electrodes 10 ′, movable electrodes 11 ′, and support beams 32 to be describe later, and others. Furthermore, in the optical switching device 31 , the initial position and the switching position are reversed as compared to the first preferred embodiment. The initial position corresponds to the switching position in the first preferred embodiment and the switching position corresponds to the initial position in the first preferred embodiment.
  • Reference numeral 32 represents four support beams supporting the movable element 3 such that the movable element 3 may be displaced in the Y-axis direction, and, substantially in the same manner as in the first preferred embodiment, each of the support beams 32 includes a substrate-side arm portion 33 having one end that is connected to the support beam fixing portion 5 , a movable element-side arm portion 34 having one end that is connected to the movable element 3 and which is spaced away from the substrate-side arm portion 33 in the Y-axis direction and that extends in the X-axis direction, and a connection portion 35 which connects the two arm portions 33 and 34 .
  • the support beam 32 is configured such that, when the movable element 3 is at the initial position, one end of the arm portions 33 and 34 is substantially U-shaped and open, and this is in a free state. At this time, the arm portions 33 and 34 are not parallel to each other such that the arm portions 33 and 34 are separated to a greater degree at one side (side of the movable element 3 ) than at the other side (side of the connection portion 35 ).
  • the support beam 32 is bent and deformed in the Y-axis direction, and thus, the one end side of the arm portions 33 and 34 is displaced to be closer to each other. Then, when the movable element 3 is displaced by a large amount to the vicinity of the switching position, the arm portions 33 and 34 are extended substantially in parallel to each other in the X-axis direction.
  • substantially the same operation-effect as that of the first preferred embodiment is obtained.
  • the support beam 31 is configured such that one end side of the arm portions 33 and 34 is substantially U-shaped and open, in the case where the amount of bending and deformation of the support beam 32 is set to be large, the space at one end of the arm portions 33 and 34 is widened at the initial position and, since the shape of the support beam 32 is not limited in order to avoid interference between the arm portions 33 and 34 at the initial position, the freedom of design is increased.
  • the support beam 6 includes the arm portions 7 and 8 and the connection portion 9 having substantially the same width dimension.
  • the present invention is not limited to that and a modified example shown in FIG. 12 can be used.
  • the support beam 6 ′ includes a substrate-side arm portion 7 ′, a movable element-side arm portion 8 ′, and a connection portion 9 ′ in substantially the same manner as the first preferred embodiment
  • the width dimension W 6 in the X-axis direction of the connection portion 9 ′ is larger as compared to the width dimensions W 4 and W 5 in the Y-axis direction of the arm portions 7 ′ and 8 ′ (W 6 >W 4 , W 6 >W 5 ).
  • the bending and deformation in the X-axis direction of the connection portion 9 ′ is minimized and the rigidity in the X-axis direction of the support beam 6 ′ is increased.
  • two of the support beams 6 , 22 , and 32 are provided on each side in the X-axis direction of the movable element 3 .
  • the present invention is not limited to these and the support beams may be arranged so as to be one or a plurality of three or more on each side of the movable element 3 .
  • the arm portions 23 and 24 of the support beams 22 include two bar-shaped elements 23 A and 24 A, respectively.
  • the present invention is not limited to this and the arm portions of the support beam may include three or more bar-shaped elements, respectively.
  • the cases in which an electrostatic actuator is used in the optical switching devices 1 , 21 , and 31 are described as examples.
  • the present invention is not limited to these and it can be used in other optical communication components having an optical shutter, optical attenuator, angular velocity sensors, resonators, and other suitable devices.
US11/037,894 2004-02-13 2005-01-18 Electrostatic actuator Abandoned US20050179338A1 (en)

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JP2004036970A JP2005227591A (ja) 2004-02-13 2004-02-13 静電型アクチュエータ
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US20090296264A1 (en) * 2003-07-29 2009-12-03 Meyer Dallas W Integrated recording head with bidirectional actuation
US20100201292A1 (en) * 2009-02-04 2010-08-12 Michael Krueger Electrostatic drive, method for operating a micromechanical component having an electrostatic drive, and method for manufacturing an electrostatic drive
US7849585B1 (en) 2004-04-05 2010-12-14 Meyer Dallas W Micropositioning recording head for a magnetic storage device
US20110102871A1 (en) * 2007-03-02 2011-05-05 AG Microsystems, INC. Micro electro mechanical system using comb and parallel plate actuation
US8279559B1 (en) 2009-01-02 2012-10-02 Meyer Dallas W Process for creating discrete track magnetic recording media including an apparatus having a stylus selectively applying stress to a surface of the recording media
US20140047919A1 (en) * 2011-05-12 2014-02-20 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Angular acceleration detection device

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EP1564878A3 (en) 2007-05-09

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